I have another antelope hunt coming up in a few weeks. I shot factory Hornady loads the last two years, but decided it was time to do my own. I went with Hornady 90 grain ELDX, 43.5 grains of H414, Winchester cases and large rifle primers. I experimented with powder loads in .5 increments and 43.5 settled down. Neck sized the cases as well. I go slow and hand weigh each one. Can't wait for the hunt.



I am using a Ruger M77 with bull barrel. I had to shoot using just my readers to get everything in focus at the range, but out hunting my regular glasses will do just fine. Leupold 4 x 12 does a great job too. I wish I had my 25 year old eyes back...

Hope you don’t have to hike very far. I once carried a 77V (25-06) on a deer hunt. Brutally heavy rifle. Good luck!

Sounds like a great load for an antelope hunt.

The round worked well. A whole in the heart and lung damaged. Not much damaged meat either.

I gotta mention a surprise I had the other day with a 243 load. I got a deal a while back on 500, 6mm, 55 grain Sierra Blitz-King bullets.

Now these bullets are ultra frangible, especially at 243 speeds. My load data shows a bit over 3100 fps, IMR-4320 powder I was using up. That’s a rather modest load.

I mostly just use them for initial sight-in, then switch to hunting loads. Fine for smaller varmints also.

I was out at a property with serious beaver problems, plugging pipes & related havoc. There was one beaver that was out in the daytime often. I walked to his area & saw him crossing the ATV trail, 40 yards. I put the bullet right in the midsection, broadside shot. There was trapping underway, figured if he was to buggered up, scavengers would get a free meal.

This was a large beaver, but below monster status. To my surprise, the bullet didn’t exit. The trapper later skinned the beaver, small hole, then the bullet came apart, no exit.

I’ve shot a few deer with the 95 grain partition, worked as well as my 308.

OBTW, I think the beaver taken is at 25 now, a good dent, but some remain.